Tight checks on RI-RP border

Tight checks on RI-RP border

AMBON, Maluku: In an effort to clamp down on smugglers,
tighter controls will be exercised on people crossing the
Indonesian-Philippines border. Commander of Indonesia's Eastern
Fleet Task Force, First Adm. Leo Dumais, said here yesterday that
the government would require entrance passes for people crossing
the border in Sanger district, North Sulawesi.

"Generally they are traditional border crossers because the
people of North Sulawesi, North Maluku and Central Halmahera
still have blood relations with people from the Philippines," he
said as quoted by Antara.

The strict controls are hoped to curb smuggling and other
illegal activities. (mds)